Danny Chen (1992 - 3 October 2011) was a Chinese-American U.S. Army private who served in Afghanistan. Chen was harassed and beaten by his fellow soldiers before his death on October 3, 2011.[1] Chen was found shot to death in a guard tower in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. It was first thought that Chen may have committed suicide.[2] However, the Army has not fully explained the circumstances of Chen's death.[3]
Chen was born and raised in Lower Manhattan in New York City,[4] where his father worked as a chef and his mother as a seamstress.[5] He graduated from Pace University High School in Manhattan in 2010. He joined the Army in January 2011 and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.[1]
Military investigators found that Chen was the target of ethnic slurs and physical attacks at the hands of his fellow soldiers before his death.[2][6] Chen had been physically and verbally abused by his superiors, who singled him out for being Chinese-American.[7][8]
On December 21, 2011, the U.S. Army said that eight American soldiers have been charged with manslaughter and an array of other crimes in connection with Chen's death: 1st Lt. Daniel J. Schwartz, Staff Sgt. Blaine G. Dugas, Staff Sgt. Andrew J. Van Bockel, Sgt. Adam M. Holcomb, Sgt. Jeffrey T. Hurst, Spc. Thomas P. Curtis, Spc. Ryan J. Offutt and Sgt. Travis F. Carden, all of C Co., 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.[2][9] Schwartz, the only officer charged, faces eight counts of dereliction of duty. The enlisted soldiers face various charges, including dereliction of duty, making false statements, assault, involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide. The Army did not specify what alleged acts by the soldiers resulted in the charges. The Army said the case remains open and other charges could be filed.[10]